Donkey loses part of tail, has 15 puncture wounds; dog owner injured and charged with four counts

Chipper the Donkey, center, was attacked by two roaming dogs on North Wilton Road in New Canaan on Wednesday, Jan. 23. He fought back and bit their owner when she tried to intervene. Chipper is flanked by fellow North Wilton Road donkeys Annie and Odessa. Also pictured is Pounce the dog, who was not involved in the attack.

Two German Shepherd-husky mixed dogs escaped from their Lantern Ridge Road home on Wednesday morning, Jan. 23, and attacked and severely injured a 20-year-old miniature donkey at his home on North Wilton Road — near the Lewisboro, N.Y., border. While the dogs’ owner, Erin Newlin, struggled to release her dogs from the donkey, the donkey — named Chipper — bit her right forearm, according to New Canaan Animal Control Officer Maryann Kleinschmitt.

At 8:10 a.m. Wednesday, Newlin called animal control and told Kleinschmitt her two dogs were missing and that their invisible fence was down. The two dogs ran about two miles to a home on North Wilton Road and attacked Chipper while he was in his corral.

“The dogs are very well tempered and they’re very good with people,” Kleinschmitt told the Advertiser. “But it is not unusual for huskies, in general, to roam. When they get out, they go, and the problem is if there’s a farm around they’re going to find it.”

At 8:35 a.m., Kleinschmitt and two police officers were dispatched to Lantern Ridge Road for a report of a donkey bite. When Kleinschmitt, police and EMTs arrived they saw Newlin with a cloth wrapped around her arm. When EMTs cut the cloth from Newlin’s arm, Kleinschmitt said she saw a big, red, raw spot on her arm and was concerned that her arm was broken. Newlin was transported to the hospital. No bones were broken.

Kleinschmitt said she took the two dogs out of car and put them in a crate in the garage.

“The dogs appeared to be uninjured and had good temperaments,” Kleinschmitt said.

Chipper, however, was hurt.

When police and Kleinschmitt arrived at the home of Chipper’s owner, Bethany Zaro, on North Wilton Road, Kleinschmitt said she found two donkeys quiet and upright in their barn, but no one was home.

Zaro arrived shortly after and told Kleinschmitt that at the time of the attack she was in her home and heard her dogs barking from inside. When she looked out the window, she found two dogs attacking Chipper. Zaro reported she ran outside to help when Chipper grabbed Newlin’s arm and threw her to the ground.

When Zaro was able to grab the two dogs and get them off the donkey, the donkey released Newlin’s arm. Zaro told Newlin that she should have her arm checked out, but Newlin got up, took the dogs and went home, Kleinschmitt said.

At 10 a.m. Kleinschmitt spoke with a veterinarian caring for Chipper at the Zaro residence. The vet said Chipper was in pain and had extensive injuries to the bowel area. In addition, a large portion of Chipper’s tail had been ripped off, and he had 15 puncture wounds on his hind legs, right eye area and head. Chipper was given pain medication and antibiotics.

“If there is no infection, the donkey will probably have 100% recovery,” Kleinschmitt said.

Since Chipper bit Newlin, Kleinschmitt placed the donkey in on-property quarantine for 14 days. She said it is unusual for donkeys to bite people.

“Donkeys are a very docile animal, so I knew that something had to happen to cause the donkey to bite,” Kleinschmitt said.

Newlin was charged with two counts of nuisance and two counts of roaming, Kleinschmitt said. Kleinschmitt also told Newlin that if there were any other incidents of roaming or attacks that she would charge her with vicious dogs under New Canaan’s dog ordinance.

All the animals involved are up-to-date with rabies vaccinations, Kleinschmitt said.